<h2>Name</h2>
<p>
The Surah takes its name from verse 224 in which the word <em>Ash-Shu`araa'</em>
occurs.
</p>
<h2>Period of Revelation</h2>
<p>
The subject matter and the style show, and the traditions confirm,
that it was revealed during the middle Makkan period. According to Ibn
Abbas, Surah Ta Ha was revealed first, then Surah Al Waqiah, and then Surah
Ash-Shu'araa.(<em>Ruh-ul-Ma'ani</em>, Vol. xx, p. 64). About Surah Ta Ha it is
well known that it had been revealed before Hadrat Umar embraced Islam.
</p>
<h2>Subject Matter and Topics</h2>
<p>
The background of the Surah is that the disbelievers of Makkah were
persistently refusing, on one pretext or the other, to accept the
message of Islam given by the Holy Prophet. Sometimes they would say
that he did not show them any sign to convince them of his
Prophethood; sometimes they would brand him as a poet or a sorcerer
and mock his message; and sometimes they would ridicule his Mission,
saying that his followers were either a few foolish youth, or the poor
people and slaves -- whereas, they argued, if his Mission had really some
value for the people, the nobles and the elders would have accepted it
first. Thus, while on the one hand, the Holy Prophet was becoming
wearied by his efforts to show them rationally the errors of their
creeds and prove the truth of the Doctrines of Tauhid and the Hereafter,
the disbelievers, on the other, were never tired of adopting one kind
of obduracy after the other. This state of affairs was causing great
anguish and grief to the Holy Prophet. 
</p>
<p>
Such were the conditions when
this Surah was revealed. It begins with words of consolation to the
Holy Prophet, implying, "Why do you fret for their sake?If these
people have not believed in you, it is not because they have not seen
any Sign, but because they are obdurate. They will not listen to
reason they want to see a Sign which makes them bow their heads in
humility. When this Sign is shown in due course of time, they will
themselves realize that what was being presented to them was the
Truth." 
</p>
<p>
After this introduction, till verse 191, one and the same
theme has been presented continuously, and it is said: "The whole
earth abounds in such Signs as can guide a seeker after truth to
Reality, but the stubborn and misguided people have never believed
even after seeing the Signs, whether these were the Signs of the
natural phenomena or the miracles of the Prophets. These wretched
people have stubbornly adhered to their erroneous creeds till the
Divine scourge actually overtook them." It is to illustrate this that
the history of seven of the ancient tribes has been told, who
persisted in disbelief just like the disbelievers of Makkah. In this
connection, the following points have been stressed: 
</p>
<OL>
<p>
<LI> The Signs are
of two kinds:(a) Those which are scattered all over the earth, and by
seeing which an intelligent person can judge for himself whether what
the Prophet is presenting is the Truth or not and (b) those which were
seen by Pharaoh and his people, Noah's people, the Ad and the Thamud,
Lot's people and the people of Aiykah. Now it is for the disbelievers
to decide which kind of the Signs they are eager to see. 
</p>
<p>
<LI> The
mentality of the disbeliever has been the same throughout the ages;
their arguments and their objections, and their excuses and
subterfuges for not believing have been similar and ultimately the
fates that they met have also been the same. Likewise, the Prophets in
every age presented the same teachings, their personal character and
their reasoning and arguments against their opponents were the same,
and they were all similarly blessed with mercy by Allah Almighty. Both
these patterns of behavior and conduct are found in history, and the
disbelievers could themselves see as to which respective patterns they
and the Holy Prophet belonged. 
</p>
<p>
<LI> Allah is All Mighty, All Powerful
and All Merciful at the same time. History contains instances of His
Wrath as well as of His Mercy. Now, therefore, it is for the people to
decide whether they would like to deserve Allah's Mercy or His Wrath.
</p>
<p>
<LI> Lastly, the discussion has been summed up, saying "O disbelievers,
if at all you want to see the Signs, why should you insist on seeing
those horrible Signs that visited the doomed communities of the
past?Why don't you see the Qur'an which is being presented in your own
language?Why don't you see Muhammad (upon whom be Allah's peace and
mercy) and his Companions?Can the revelations of the Qur'an be the
work of a satan or a jinn?Does the recipient of the Qur'an appear to
be a sorcerer?Are Muhammad and his Companions no different from a poet
and his admirers?Why don't you give up disbelief and search your
hearts for their judgment?When in the heart of your hearts you
yourselves believe that the Revelations of the Qur'an have nothing in
common with sorcery and poetry, then you should know that you are
being cruel and unjust, and will certainly meet the doom meant for the
cruel and unjust."
</p>
</OL>

